Concern Boeing has suspended flight testing the first prototype of perspective-deck tanker UAV MQ-25A Stingray for the installation of a fueling equipment. Reported Flightglobal.
The first flight MQ-25A made in September 2019 years and by the time the tests were suspended, he managed to fly in total about 30 hours. According to the plans of the developers, flight tests of the device will be carried out for another year and a half.
AT 2018 year Boeing won a contract for 805 million. dollars, providing for the construction of the first four copies of the MQ-25A. The basis for the development of the new device was the secret prototype of the X-47, created as part of a subsequently canceled project. Initially, the command of the Navy planned to adopt an unmanned stealth bomber, who could bomb, remaining invisible to air defense systems. The project was named RAQ-25. AT 2016 year, the US Navy formulated new requirements for a carrier-based drone, changing its main purpose. The project was renamed the MQ-25 Stingray and redeveloped into an unmanned tanker. At the same time, the military command abandoned the stealth characteristics of the aircraft., and also removed from the requirements the ability to carry weapons.
2 April 2020 of the year, the US Navy signed an additional contract with Boeing for the supply of more 3 drones MQ-25A. All of them will be used in demonstration and evaluation tests..
The US Navy plans to purchase 72 Stingray units, allocating a total of about 13 billion. dollars. This will ease the load on the F / A-18F Super Hornet fleet., refueling other aircraft. The first drone MQ-25A Pentagon intends to put into operation in 2024 year.
